The majority of the Ontario Place waterfront should be parkland, says the chair of a panel charged with outlining a makeover of the lands. John Tory presented his group’s recommendations to Tourism Minister Michael Chan today. CBc.ca
Rain much needed by farmers, gardens
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Check the weather today. Click the Weather Channel icon above. Here’s hoping the rain helps the farmers and the gardeners.
1985 Town Crier featured Leaside journalist
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The seemingly tireless work of Sue Byford, and the deep archives of her family’s business, keeps turning up wonderful old copies of the Town Cirer. The most recent one is from February 26, 1985 and carries a mother lode of fascinating local news. One familiar face that shines out of its pages is that of the late Art Cole, a Leaside resident whose career in journalism lasted many decades. In the early 60s, he was City Editor of the Toronto Telegram. He later served at the United Nations for the Tely and then went on to a career as an entertainment columnist for CFRB radio and local publications like the Town Crier. Check it out. Town Crier pdf.
Joe Fresh to open 700 stores at J.C. Penney
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An aggressive move by owner Joe Mimran to open 700 Joe Fresh stores in the U.S. The shops will be located in the J.C. Penney department stores across many states. The shops will range in size from about 90 to 230 square metres and are set to open next April. As they open, the Fresh stores will carry the signature inexpensive clothing for the style year 2013. That’s dresses, T-shirts, denim and silk blouses. Joe Mimran said in a statement today that he was proud to partner with “one of America’s most iconic department stores.” The Canadian brand opened a temporary summer location in East Hampton, N.Y., last year. Joe Fresh has six stores in New Jersey, New York and Long Island.
Toyota to add 400 jobs at Cambridge plant
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Analysts are crediting the strengthening Japanese Yen for a decision by Toyota to increase Lexus production at its Cam,bridge plant. Toronto Star
Customers must show faces, LCBO tells staff
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The LCBO has taken immediate action after it was revealed alcohol was sold to a burka-wearing 14 year old last week. “We have sent notices to employees, reminding them that it is necessary to look at the customer’s face in full to ensure alcohol is being served to a person of age,” Chris Layton, spokesperosn for the LCBO said Toronto Sun.
South Bayview dark but the dancing went on
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Last night’s power outage (previous post) turned all the businesses dark for two hours. At the Ballroom on Bayview dance studio (over Alex Farm) the dancing went on regardless. There was enough light through the skylights and someone turned on a wireless blue tooth iPhone with speaker for music. Very nice apparently. As to the restaurants, must have been tough to keep the food warm but the ice probably lasted to keep the drinks cold. We’re told Toronto Leaside Hapkido Martial Arts also carried on and had a very good kick-boxing session.
Sun finds boy in a burka can buy booze
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Sun News Network organized a test — some may call it a stunt — to see if a 14-year-old boy could buy alcohol at liquor stores in the GTA. The boy was dressed head to toe in a burka, the black gown worn by some Muslim woman. The attempt was successful at three LCBO stores, with no questions being asked Sun Media.
No condo bubble, Royal Bank economist says
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As long as Toronto is a magnet to the world, Royal Bank of Canada seems to feel there’s no reason to fear a collapse of housing and condo prices. RBC’s senior economist Robert Hogue said in the report that demand in Toronto is line with supply. He said that Toronto’s condo building frenzy over the last few years is mainly a response to the steep drop in new single-family homes being built. Efforts by the Ontario government to stem urban sprawl in the GTA is one of the reasons why developers are being forced to build laterally, said Mr. Hogue. The GTA sees about 30,000 new households a year.
Power out to Leaside, Davisville Village
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A power outage last night darkened some 1800 homes in Leaside and Davisville Village between about 7.30 and 9.30 p.m. The impact of the blackout seems to have been felt beyond that perimeter however as there was a failure of Bell Internet service during a corresponding period for a larger area. Homes in Moore Park were without Bell service until about 10.30. Telephones continued to work. The brief power outage left customers both residential and commercial in the dark throughout an area between Mt Pleasant Road and Laird Drive, bounded by Eglinton Avenue to the north and Milwood Road to the south.
Arena chairman on temporary problems
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Brooke Biscoe, Arena Board Chair, Leaside Memorial Community Gardens, has written to explain the temporary inconveniences around the arena while construction of the new pad goes on Here’s his report If you’ve driven by the arena in the past week you know that things are starting to happen! The perimeter fence is up, the site has been cleared and construction is underway. Thank you again to everyone who has helped get us to this point. The arena board met last week with representatives from our three main user groups and from the Curling Club to discuss some of the issues we will face during the coming year of construction. Of course we don’t yet know all the details of what the impacts will be. But the Expansion Committee, the contractor and city officials are working closely together and meeting regularly. I intend to be back in touch with you before Labour Day with more information about parking and alternative access instructions, and with what we might know at that point about any potential service disruptions. I assure you that we will do our best to keep the arena user groups and the Leaside community informed of all developments, and I ask for your patience and co-operation throughout the coming year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Movie theatre killer silent, detached
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| James Eagan Holmes |
His hair dyed orange and looking strangely detached, James Eagan Holmes, 24, made his first appearance in court today in Colorado. He is accused of killing a dozen people in a movie theater during the midnight showing of the new “Batman” film. Holmes was silent as he sat in a red jailhouse jump suit. He was accompanied by a woman lawyer. He was shackled at the wrists and ankles. About 40 members of the victim’s families were seated on the left side of the courtroom. One family member seated in the front row glared at Holmes throughout the entire proceeding.